Monday, February 20, 2006

Today is President's Day, which means I should be patriotically shopping for mattresses, cars, or linoleum. After work, that is. However, other family members have ample time to do their bit, as Prez Day is February-Off Day for school-related people. Not me; I'll be slogging away at the office.But.I'll still be thinking presidential thoughts.James Polk presidential thoughts, if you demand specificity.They Might Be Giants' James Polk thoughts, if you really need to pin me down.

"In four short years he met his every goalHe seized the whole southwest from MexicoMade sure the tarriffs fellAnd made the English sell the Oregon territoryHe built an independent treasuryHaving done all this he sought no second termBut precious few have mourned the passing ofMister James K. Polk, our eleventh presidentYoung Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump."

Now, our current prez, a graduate of Yale and Harvard Biz School, on paper at least, would seem to a purpose and project oriented kind of guy. Sort of like Mr. James Polk, if one cares to stretch things to a ludicrous conclusion. Why he never took up Mr. Polk's example and cut out after one term is still beyond me. Would not have his legacy retained at least one shread of pseudo-decency? Instead, the spotlight of 8 years of incomptency, secracy, and spilt blood will forever shine on this president's service. It's a joke gone bad and no one's laughing through the tears.